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E. s. PORTER Re. 20,622

FILM MAGAZINE FOR AMATEUR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS Jan. 11, 1938.

Original Filed May 26, 193] 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIHIIH $91 INVENTOR EAMSPQJLU BY- M V W a 9;

' J ATTORNEYS E. PORTER Jan. 11, 1938.-

' FILM mmzmn FOR A E MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS,

Original Filed May 26, 193] 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR s mm Q N kw Nm R Q 1 h i NM n I I BE M AAJJW%$JQ ATTORNEYS a Jan. 11, 1938 m Stanton PM, Na a. 1.

Original No. 1,954,:41. has April 11', m4, Serial No. 540,050, May 26, 1931. Application for reissue July :1, ism, Serial ms. 91.194

lilclahna.

This invention relates to improvements in film magazines and more particularly to a novel mag-' azine capable of holding unexposed film in a mounted condition "ready for-use, and capable of 5. being charged into a camera and discharged therefrom as a unit. One of the advantageous uses is with especial reference to amateur motion picture cameras.

One. of the main objects of the invention is to provides. new and novel magazine for holdlng'a charge of film in position ready for exposure and to have such loaded magazine capable of easy shipment and to be of easy carrying size.

A further object of the invention is to provide 1 simple and eiiicient means whereby the film in the magazine when the magazine is properly in.-v serted in the camera will beabsoluteiy and ac- 'curately disposed in the proper position with respect to the camera lenses.

20 A further object is to provide a new and im- A still further object is to provide novel and efficient means whereby the lateral position ofthe film to insure accurate registration with themag azine aperture can be'feadlly achieved.

' Yet a further object comprises the provision of simple and eilicient film tensioning andguiding means whereby any sudden strains of moving the film are taken from both the film feeding means" and the take up mechanism, a A still further object is to provide simple and emcient means on the exterior of the magazine to insure the disposition of the magazine in fully com lete operative picture-taking position within thefl mera recess especially when the camera 4 door closed -on the magazine after insertion. and at the same time to form a simple means whereby the magazine may be very quickly extracted from the camera when desired.

' l further and more specific objects, features and- 45 advantages will more clearly appear from a con-' sideration of the specification hereinafter taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and? which illustrate a present preferred form of the invennotion. Briefly considered and in general terms the inventlon concerns an improved magazine for a motion picture camera into which this unitary complete magazine is insertable and from which 55 the magazine is readily. removable when, the film hasbe'enexposed. Suchloadingmaybe doneat any time at day or night without aifecting the film. The magazlneisof a type that can be sold as a separate unit from the camera and the purchaser merely has to insert the e into 5- the camera in order to make it ready for use. Thisnovel magazine preferably is in the form of a somewhat rectangular casing having top, bottom and lateral walls. The lateral walls are preferably iormed in a smooth curve at the por- D ners. The magazine contains a supply reel and a take-up reel, and a stationary gate plate disposed adjacent one wall of the-casing which wall has an aperture therein and between which walland the'guide plate the film is adapted to pass as it is moved by the feeding mechanism during the operation of the camera.

A feature of the invention resides in them-- vision of a resilient element associated with the gate plate to pres lightly on the lateral edge of the film so asto predetermine the lateral registration of the film with respect to the aperture opening in the magazine and also to make the movement of the film steadier to prevent flickering on the screen.

1 The invention further comprises a take-up shaft projecting into the magazine and on which the take-up reel is mounted. This shaft is pro-' r vided exterior of the magazine with a desired pin device toengage with the corresponding portion of the drive mechanism of the camera. This pin arrangement is provided on' one face with -a ratchet mechanism cooperating with a spring disposed on the face ofthe magazine adjacent thereto to permit the drive of the take-up reel in one direction and to prevent its movement in theopposite direction so that when the film is once taken up on the reel'it cannot be negligently-or accidentally unwound. h

The invention furthercomprlses a spring pref- 4 erabfy curved as shown, disposed on the rear face of the magazine having a normal position and 7 adapted to be engaged by the door of the camera as the door is closed after the magazine is inserted. thus placing the spring imder compression to draw the magazine-from the camera. The invention further comprises suitable spring elements within the magazine and adapted to engage the inm te place it under desiredtension, especially when films of consider- '55:

able length'are employed. These elements so engage the film that as the him! isfed the immediate and first strain of feeding the film past the opening and rolling it up on the take-up reel is somewhat relieved.

The present preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the magazine;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the opposite side of the magazine;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the magazine as she in Fig. 2 with the plate removed; I

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the cover in place;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the magazine showing the projector opening, the feeding claw opening and the registration pin opening;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of themagazine showing the position of the spring;

Fig. 7 is. an enlarged longitudinal section through the magazine, the view being taken on the line I'-l of Fig. 3.

, Fig. 8 is a partialplan view of the front end of the magazine with the cover removed;

Fig.- ii is a transverse section taken on the line '.l! of Fig. 8 with the cover in place;

Fig. 10 is a detail of the drive connection for the take-up reel;

Fig. 11 is-a section taken on the line ll-II of Fig. 10; and v 'Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of the filmtens'ioning-spring plates. In the present preferred form of the inventio the magazine is adapted to be used preferably in connection with amateur motion picture cameras.

The preferred form of camera of this type generally has a magazine receiving recess in line with the camera lens. The magazine is preferably inserted into the recess from the rear of 'the camera. The improved magazine insertable into such recess is shown in the drawings and comprises topand bottom walls II and II, respectively, and a lateral or side wall l2. This top wall ll generally is in the form of a cover which is removable to. permit the film to be removed andto be threaded and otherwise disposed within the magazine. The side or lateral wall II as will be seen from Fig. 3, preferably is formed at the corners in a wide smooth curve indicated by the numeral I! so as to provide a neat. appearing magazine and one which. may berslipped readily into and out of the pocket smoothly without any tendency of jamming ortearing the clothing.

At the rear end of the magazine there is provided a type of handle readily grasped to remove the magazine from "the camera; The'preferred handle constitutes a spring which as well as' serving as a handleserves as a means for assisting to hold the magazine in place after the camera door' has been closed onto the magazine. Preferably this handle constitutes a curved flat spring plate ll connected at one end to the lower wall by means of two rivets II- and it. By having two rivets the spring is more firmly held in position and lateral deflection thereof is prevented; At the other end'of the spring there is provided a suitable means for-holding that end of the spring-in place. Preferably such means includes a slot II in which rides the of another rivet ll to.hold this end oi the-spring in approximate alignmentand yet permit longitudinsl movement of the spring. Aspreviously stated this spring is engaged/er pressed towird the rear face oi the magazine by the door of the camera as the door is closed. The force of this spring stubshaft 22 which projects into the magazine and is mounted on the bottom wall ll of the magazine. This stub shaft 22 projects into the casing far enough to be closely adjacent if not actually abutting the cover it so as to prevent inward further displacement of the cover which might rub against the edge of the film. The upper end 23 of this shaft is preferably square and adapted to engage with the serrated openin or bore 2i of the supply spool. 0n the outside of the magazine this drive is in the form of a disk or plate 24 having a projecting drive pin 25.

One or more of these drive pins man be included if desired.

' In cameras it is desired thatexposed film shall not be allowedto return to a position in front of the exposure aperture, and for this reason the take-up spool shall not be allowed to'turn backward. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. Preferably the inner face of plate or disk 2| isprovided with spaced ratchet teeth 26. spiraispring 2.1 one end of which is an upturned tongue 28 engageable with the ratchet teeth 28 and in such manner as shown in Fig. 10, that the shaft 22 and the plate 24 can be turned in one direction but not in the other. This will permit the take-up spool to be turned in the proper di-' Beneath this plate there is disposed a flat rection towindup the dim thereon but will prevent the film from being unwound therefrom, either intentionally or accidentally.

This mechanism is especially useful when the magazine is talrenout of the camera and the drive element of the take-up spool is disengaged from the drive element of the camera, which latter element, of course, is arranged to drive in only one direction. In the particular separable drive connection herein disclosed there is some back lash :amounting at'most to a part of a revolution, but this in most cases would not permit the take-up spool to turn-backward sufliciently plate. However, the ratchet mechanism herein provided prevents all appreciable backward tum- .to causeany movement obthe fllmat the gateing of the take-up spool, whether the magazine v is disposed in' the camera or out of it.

1 The magazine is also provided with a stub shaft 2! fastenedv to the bottom wall -I I and adapted to receive a supply spool or reel 30 also embraced by a nlm'ensasins flat spring II. The stub shaft 2! also projects inward far enough to lie veryclosely adjacent the cover II inexactly the same manner as the stub shaft 22 and for the same reason. The stub shaft 2| is provided with a groove ll to'rec'eive a fiat curved spring a fastened to the shaft 2| and tending to press against the inner face of the spool bore 12 to provide suitable frictional resistance to rapid un-- winding of the film from the supply spool until theproperpullis ontheiilm. lung the film is indicated. by the numeral I when it 'takesafreepathandisnotthreadedaroundroller II as will hereinafter be described.

'Wlthinthemagazinetheresredisposed of spring plates 3! and I. of preferably identical construction'fastened to the opposite sides of the 75 apair.

lateral inn 1": y or rivet; :1 s. in

Fl '512'. Ea'clrof these-platesfhas spaced project mg 38' the ends of whioh turned over as at:39 'to-formiournals for rollers o'r rods 40 and 40' ekfe'riding across between" these Journals and acting 'as idler roll'ers orinemberS I around which the film '34 shown in Fig.' 3, the film passes from the supply spool 30 in a smooth curve around the'rod 40 on one-of these plates'thence, between the gate-plate 4| and the front portion.

of the lateral wall I! thence around the-rod 40' on the plate 35 and then to and around the take up spool- II. In the normal position "of the film as shown in Fig. 3.;the tension of the film'will tend topull the rods and the free ends of'the plates away from their lateral wall. and the resistance of the free ends of the plates to such displacement as'will' place the filmundertension. For

- depression 44 throughout its length and in instance, if the claw mechanism. which is usually employed in cameras of this type has pulled the film down past the aperture opening 42 therein the natural tendency "oiE- the spring 36 between the roll '30 and the gate" plate 4| will tend to move this plate toward the adjacent lateral wall and upon its return due to the springiness there-. of, it will pull some of the" film oil the supply reel so that when the claw action again commences it will not-have to pull the whole roll and thusany. undue strain will be removed therefrom. Similarly the other 'plate 35 will automaticallyoperate to keep the film from the gate-plate" so that it; may be easily wound upon the'take-up'reel is.

The spring plates, 36 are particularly vantageous when large spools havinglong lengths of film are employedbecause the inertia of unwinding film from such large spools is greater and theactionof the spring plates serves to ease the burden on the take-up and film feeding mechanism.

Observing Figs. 8 and 9, particularly; it. will be seen that the gate-plate 4| is fastened in positionby screws 43 preferably to the bottom wall llwTh'isplate has'curved endportions with a I which the film passes in a smooth curve.

It is also provided with a narrower and depression 49 extending throughout its length lying beneath the picture portion of the film.

1 Both of these depressions or grooves are clearly shown in Fig. '9. The gate plate also has a recess inthe one face thereof indicated by the numeral 45 in Fig. 9 and in this recess is disposed springarms'fli connected integrally to each other andto plate 41 fastened by screws 48 to the rear face of thegate-plate 4| as is also indicated in Fig. 7. These spring arms 46 as shown in Fig. '7 project slightly forward along one lateral edge thereof beyond the front face of the gate-plate so asi'to' contact with the edge of the film 34.

Thislateral pressure will tend to hold the film in proper lateral position and registration within this shallow groove 44 on the face of the gateplate 4|, which depression is. shown in Fig. '7,

particularly. A recess 49' is formed in the face of the gate-plate 4| back of the aperture opening 42 in the casing sothat in positioning this portion of the film with ,respect to the lens a. certain 5 amount of adjustable'movement of the film will be permitted.

In many instances it is desired to havea magazine provided with means for cooperating with an'element carried by the camera so that as the magazine .is assembled in the camera it will take a proper position. To accomplish this end there is provided a depression 50, Figs-1 and 5, which adobe aepressioii at; (e-sausages depth. depression receives a'tongue carried by the camera. ""Inthei'eventthemagazine is not inserted with the-right side up, it will not fit and the magazine may withdrawn and reversed and then properlyassembled. Any other satisfactory means'ofl accomplishing this end may .be employed. 7

It will be. observed that the him will travel from the supply reel 30 directly to and down across the front face of the gate 4| along the groove 44 therein and will-be kept in lateral registration by the spring'arms 44. resistance to movement of the film by the driving mechanism will allow the film'to remain in stationary positionduring exposure. However, the resistance is not entirely relied upon to hold the ,film in exposure position for it'is usual to have a locating pin. enter opening 5| to engage one of the sprocket holes and to thereby positively hold-the film in position during exposure. This pin is automatically moved back as'th'e film moving claws engage the It will he noticed that the bottom plate II has longitudinal ribs 52 therein to stiffen the bottom and that this-formation reduces the area of the bottom plate with which the lateral edge of the film may come in contact to reduce the lateral frictionon the film. Similarly the cover I0 is provided with ribs 53 to stiffen the same and to reduce the area contacting with the edge of the mm for the same reason.

It'will also be noted that the lateral wall I? is provided with a central peripheralbulge or offset 54 to prevent contact between the picture section on the film and the lateral wall. The

lateralwalli! of the casing' is made of metal thin enough to be gripped between the fingers to press the lateral walls and'spring the metal outwardly away from the gate plate 4| to more readily permit insertion of the film between this portion of the lateral wall and the'gate-plate.

The filmisheld in' properly exposed position in respect to the focal length of the lens employed in the camera, 1. e., in the focal plane. In the structure herein disclosed the exposure opening 42 receives therein a small frame car- -ried-by thecainera. The end of the frame is positioned in a plane passing through the focal 1 length 01 the lens. The film in passing. along the groove 44 in gate 4| engages the frame, at the time otexpo'sure thereby being in properiocal position. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that'the film is unwound from, reel 30 and is straightened out in passing along groove 44 in the gate plate 4|, but the tendency of the film is to curl and bulge outwardly-and in'so doing maintains itself against the frame carried bythe camera and received within the aperture opening 42 of the magazine. v

Theconfinement of the. edges of the film in the groove between the gate plate and the front walio'f the container assists in maintaining the film inproper position.

If desired, a positive means may be employed forholding the film against the frame, the same being. disposed in the recess 4!"but it has been found that such positive means is no although such positive means has in this type of magazine.

The spring plates 36 by their tensioning effect on the film will take undue strain off the takeup and feeding mechanism as described above. The slmple and improved driving connection will permit the film to be taken up on the' spool I! but will prevent motion in the opposite direction. This eifect is achieved by the use of ratchet teeth on the drive plate in combination with. the fiat'spring thereunder. The curved spring at the rear end of the magazine tends to keep the efficient, and practical as it isobvious from a consideration of the various features.

While the invention has been described in detail and with respect to a present preferred form thereof it is not to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence'it is desired to cover any and all forms and modifications of the invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable film carrying magazine for cameras which comprises a magazine casing insertable into a recess in the camera, a spring element on the rear end of the magazine engageable by the door of the camera when the door is closed, to force the magazine into operative position within the camera.

2. A magazine for cameras which comprises a casing, a fiat curved spring element on one end thereof adapted to be engaged by a portion of the camera when themagazine is inserted therein to hold the magazine in position within the camera.

3. A film magazine for-cameras which comprises a casing containing a film, a curved spring element on the rear face thereof, said element fastened to the casing rigidly at one end and having a sliding connection with the casing at the other end.

4. A film magazine for amateur motion picture cameras which comprises a casing'containing film, a curved spring element fastened at one end to the casingalong one face thereof, said spring element having a slot in the other end and a pin element on the casing slidabie in said slot to permit predetermined movement of the spring element. I

5. A film magazine for cameras which comprises a casing, a gate-plate adjacent one wall thereof between which gate and the wall the film passes, spring means on the gate-plate and projecting beyond one edge thereof to engage the lateral edge of the film to hold it in lateral alignmentwhen being exposed, said spring means having two arms connected together and arranged to engage the edge of the film at least at two points, one point of engagement being at one side of the center of the spring means and the other point of engagement being at the other side of the center of the spring means.

6. A film magazine for cameras, said magazine including a casing, a take-up shaft projecting thereinto, a plate on the outer end of said shaft and being-located outside the casing and having ratchet teeth on its inner face, and a fiat spring disposed on the outside of. said casing beneath said plate and having an end portion adapted to engage the teeth and permit only uni-directional movement of the shaft.

'1. A film magazine for cameras, said magazine including a casing, a take-up shaft projecting thereinto for receiving a film spool, a plate on Y the outer end of said shaft and being located outside the casing having ratchet teeth on its inner face, a fiat spring disposed on the outerside of said casing beneath said plate having an end portion adapted to engage the teeth and permit only uni-directional movement of the shaft, and a drive pin-projecting from the outer face of said plate to engage a mechanism for rotating said take-up shaft.

8. A film magazine for cameras, a magazine including a'casing having a base portion with lateral walls and a cover portion, a gate-plate disposed in said base portion adjacent the lateral wall, spring means on the gate-plate adapted to bear against the film passing between the gateplate and the adjacent wall of the casing, a film supply and take-up spool, spring means disposed adjacent opposite ends of the gate-plate to en-. gage the film and create therein predetermined tension as the film is moved, means projecting from the casing and engaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only one direction; ribs on the base and cover to strengthen the same,

and reduce the lateral area ofcontact with the film, the lateral wall of the casing being oif-set along the center to avoid contact with the picture sections of the film within the casing.

9. A film magazine for cameras, a magazine including a casing having a base portion with lat.- eral walls and a cover portion, a gate-plate disposed in said base portion jacent the lateral wall, means projecting from he casing and engaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only one direction, ribs on the base and cover to strengthen the same, andreduce" the lateral' area of contact with the film, the lateral wall of the casing being off-set along the center to avoid contact with the picture sections of the film within the casing. I

10. A film magazine for cameras, a magazine including a casing having a base portion with lateral walls and a cover portion, a gate-plate disposed insaid base portion adjacent the lateral wall, spring means on the gate-plate adapted to bear against the film passing between the gate-plate and the adjacent wall of the casing, a film supply and take-up spool, spring means dispo sed adjacent opposite ends of the gate-plate to engage the film and create therein predetermined tension as the film is moved, means projecting from the casing and engaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only one direction, ribs on the base and cover to strengthen the same and reduce the lateral area of contact with the film, the lateral wall of the casing being oif-set along the center to avoid contact with the picture sectionsof the film within the casing, a spring device on the rear end of the casing adjustable therein and engageable by ai'door on the camera when the door is closed to hold the magazine in position, said magazine adjacent the front end thereof having a depression to cooperate with a tongue in the camera and locating the magazine in the camera.

11. A film magazine for cameras, a magazine including a casing having a base portion with lateral walls and a cover portion, a supply spool and atake-up spool in said magazine, a gateplate disposed in said base portion adjacent the lateral wall, means projecting from the base portionof the casing and engaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only one direction, ribs on the base and cover to strengthen the same,

film, the lateral wall of the casing being oil-set along the center to avoid contact with the pic-- ture sections .of the film within the casing, and a plate extending from the adjacent end of the gate-plate to a point toward the take-up spool, said plate Lying closely adjacent the wall of the magazine and forming a passage along which the film passes, the end of the latter plate adjacent the take-up spool being of a. predetermined flexibility, the film passingover this flexible end and on the base and cover to strengthen the same,

and reduce the lateral area 01 contact with the film, the lateral wall of the' casing being'ofi-set along the center to avoid contact with the picture sections of the film within the casing, and plates extending from the adjacent ends of the gateplate to points toward the spools, said plates lying closely adjacent the walls of the magazine and forming passages along which the film passes, the endo! the latter plates adjacent the spools being of a predetermined flexibility, the film passing over these flexible ends and being continuously maintained in a state oi tension as it passes between said spools.

13. A film magazine for cameras, a magazine I. including a casing having a base portion with lateral walls and a cover portion, a supply spool and a'take-up'spool in said magazine, a gateplate disposed .in said base portion adjacent the -lateral wall, means projecting, from the base portion of the casing and engaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only one direction, ribs on the base and cover to strengthen the same, and reduce the lateral area 01' contact with the film, the lateral wall of the casing being ofi-set along the center to avoid contact with the picture sections of the film within the casing and a leaf-type resilient member secured at one end within the magazine and disposed between the end of said gate-plate and one of the spools 'in said magazine in such position as to form a bent section in said film strip, the film strip passing along a passage at the free end oi said resilient member whereby it is caused to maintain its bent disposition and to be maintained under tension for the purposes set forth.

, '14. A film magazine for cameras, a magazine ,includinga casing having a base portion with 'I lateral walls and a cover portion, a supply spool and a take-up spool in said magazine, a gatepiate disposed in said base portion adjacent the lateral walls, means projecting from the base portion oi the casing and engaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only one direction, ribs on the base and cover to strengthen the same, and reduce the lateral area oi contact with the and reduce the lateral area oi contact with the film, the lateral wall of the casing being oil-set along the center to avoid contact with the picture sections of the film within the casing, and leaftype resilient members secured each at one end within the magazine and disposed between the ends or said gate-plate and the spools in said magazine in such position as to form bent sections in said film strip, the film strip passing along passages at the free'ends of said resilient ture for a side wall of the magazine, gate means for guiding and supporting a film strip in a predetermined position as it passes said aperture, said gate means including means forming a channel for guidingthe film strip beyond the aperture, the walls and guiding means of said magazine principally, engaging the side edges of the film strip to minimize contact with the intermediate or picture portion of the film strip, and a leaf-type resilient member secured at one end within the magazine and disposed between the end of said channel and one of the spools in said magazine in such position as to form a bent section in said film strip, the film strip passing along a passage at the free end of said resilient member whereby it is caused to maintain its bent disposition and to be maintained under tension for the purposes set forth.

16. A motion picture'film magazine comprising in combination, a casing including a bottom wall, a cover wall, and lateral or side walls, a supply spool and a take-up spool mounted in said magazine, means projecting from one-oi said walls andengaging the take-up spool for driving said spool in only onedirection Irom mechanism of the camera with which the magazine is adapted to be used, means providing an exposure aperture for a side wall of the magazine, gate means for guiding and supporting a film strip in a predetermined position as it passes said aperture, said gate means including means forming a channel for guiding the film strip beyond the aperture, the walls and guiding means of said magazine principally engaging the side edges oi the film' strip to minimize contact with the intermediate or picture portion of the film strip, and

leaf-type resilient members secured each atone a'passageat the free end of said resilient member whereby it is caused to maintain its bent disposition and to be maintained under tension for the purposes set forth. 1

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